Pressure can having a flexible material holding bag therein



March 9, 1954 D, MCBEAN 2,671,578

PRESSURE CAN HAVING A FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HOLDING BAG THEREIN Filed June 20, 1950 INN T I0 12 y 2/ 1-L I v M M W 45 l6 2 INVENTOR- DOUGLAS M. M BEAN BY Patented Mar. 9, 1954 PRESSURE CAN HAVING A FLEXIBLE MATE- RIAL HOLDING BAG THEREIN Douglas M. McBean, Rochester, N. Y. Application June 20, 1950, Serial No. 169,209

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly to pressure cans such as may be used for containing and dispensing liquids, or pasty materials. More particularly the invention relates to pressure cans for holding and dispensing lacquers, paints, chemicals, soda fountain syrups, mayonnaise, icings, whipped cream, etc.

Whipped cream is now being sold extensively in pressure cans, being charged with a suitable, inert gas so that whenever a valve in the can is opened, cream in whipped form may be forced out of the can. The vapor pressure of carbon dioxide, however, is approximately 850 p. s. i. If any quantity of liquid carbon dioxide were introduced into cream or other material, the can would explode. Consequently the only way the cream or other material can be charged with carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide is by the same method as charged water, namely by charging it with a gas. With this arrangement, however, when the can is partially emptied of its contents, it is necessary to shake the can vigorously several times before enough pressure can be built up in the can to force further cream out of the can. Even then, when the can is pretty well emptied the pressure, that can be built up, is insuificient to force the last of the contents out of the can. As the can is emptied, the pressure in the can will be reduced because the gas is escaping with the product. Hence, there is always some wastage of cream.

With other materials, such as, for instance, marshmallow there are disadvantages to use of known types of pressure cans. If the marshmallow in the can is charged sufficiently with an inert gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide, for the gas to build up sufficient pressure to dispense the contents of the can, then the contents of the can do not come out with the fiuffiness that is desired.

Conventional types of pressure cans for dispensing materials other than whipped cream are, moreover, bulky and inconvenient to use. Moreover, known types of pressure cans are limited in use. For instance, the known types of pressure cans which are used for dispensing acids and other chemicals are unfit for storing the contents once they are opened. They are lined with a plastic material to protect the can itself, but the cans must be opened by puncturing through the can and liner. the can to get back of the liner and either destroy the can or contaminate the contents. Hence, when such a can is opened, it is unfit for further storage of its contents.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a pressure can for dispensing a liquid or a pastry material which is so constructed as to deliver the material at any time instantaneously, simply upon opening of a valve, and regardless of the amount or dispensable material left in the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure can for dispensing whipped cream, free flowing, or viscous liquids, or pasty materials which is so constructed that it will deliver out of the can even the last remaining portion of the contents of the can, without any manipulation of the can on the part of the user except for pressing open the outlet valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure can for dispensing either free-flowing or viscous materials which is so constructed that the dispensable material will not come into contact with the can, but will be held within a plastic bag to which pressure may be applied to dispense in controlled quantities the contents of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing pressure can in which the contents, as, for instance, marshmallow, may be charged with an inert gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide, whose pressure is such as to cause the material to be dispensed in fluffy form but is not sufficient to force the material from the can, and still have a can which will completely dispense the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure can for dispensing either free-flowing or viscous materials from a plastic bag which is so constructed that the pressure on the bag may be equalized and all of the contents of the bag may be dispensed.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a pressure can of the type described which will be easy to use, and of relatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pressure can constructed according to one embodiment of this invention;

, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through this can, taken at right angles to the view of Fig. 1 and showing the dispensing valve in closed position; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the can, showing the dispensing valve open.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, It! denotes the can body. This may be of any suitable shape. It is closed at its base This allows the contents of by a bottom H which may be sealed in any conventional manner to the can. It has a rolled over lip 12 at its top forming an opening that is closed in use by the cap I3.

The cap has an in-turned horizontal, circular flange portion l4 and is formed with a central sleeve l5. This sleeve has at its bottom end an out-turned horizontal, circular flange it. Mounted within the sleeve is a rubber valve seat .20 which is spool-like in shape and has upper and lower end portions 21 and 22 of enlarged diameter seating against the upper and lower faces, respectively, of the flange portions M and it, respectively, of the cap.

Disposed centrally within the rubber valve seat 23 is a valve having a head 25 and a stem 23. The head of the valve is adapted to seat against the underface of portion 22 of valve seat 29. The stem 25 projects upwardly through the bore 32 of the valve seat 20 and is secured by threads or otherwise to a knob 21. This knob has a diagonal duct 33 and a central duct 3! formed in it. The diagonal duct 3s extends from the outside of the knob to the central duct 3i. The central duct 3! is in alignment with the bore 32 in the rubber valve seat 20.

Mounted on the sleeve portion l of the cap i3 is a tube 35. This tube is of reduced diameter at its upper end to fit tightly around the outside of sleeve portion l5 and is formed with a shoulder that rests upon the flange it of the cap. The tube 35 extends down close to the bottom of the can; and at its bottom portion the tube is provided with a bell-shaped inlet 36 that is provided with a plurality of inlet openings 31. Secured at its upper end to the outside of the tube 35 is a flexible plastic bag or container 43. This may be vulcanized or otherwise secured to the reduced diameter portion of the tube 35.

The material, which is to be dispensed, is placed in the bag or container; and Freon or a similar liquid of. suitable vapor pressure which vaporizes readily, is placed in the space M between the bag or container id and the inside wall of the can.

To equalize the pressure between the top and the bottom of the can, a conductor tube 45 is preferably secured in the can at one side thereof as by soldering. This tube conveys the Freon gas from top to bottom of the can, or vice versa,

to equalize the pressure on the top and bottom of the bag 45. Thus, the Freon, or other propellant is prevented from being sealed off in the bottom of the can by the bag, which would make it difficult, if not impossible, to empty the bag. Thus, also, there is prevented any chance that pressure on the top of the bag might build up to such an extent as to make it difficult to maintain the bag 43 on the valve seat Zil.

In preparing the pressure can for the market, the cap 13 may be sealed in the top of the container with the tube 35, valve seat 25-, valve 25, and knob 21 secured in it. The bag 40, which has been filled with the product, which is to be dispensed, may then be sealed to the upper end of the tube 35. After a suificient quantity of Freon has been placed in the can It, the bottom I I may be sealed in the can. The space between the bag 43 and the inside wall of the can is not completely filled with Freon so that the Freon may vaporize readily to put pressure upon the bag. To dispense the material, which is in the bag, the user depresses the knob 21, opening the valve 25, as shown in Fig. 3. The pressure of the gas around its openings 31, up through the tube 35, through the open valve 25, and out through the ducts 32, 3| and 33 as long as the valve is held depressed. As soon as the pressure on the knob 21 is released, the elasticity of the valve seating member 25 restores the valve 25 to closed position as shown in Fig. 2. The under side of the knob 21 is provided with an annular recess 38 to permit of the depression of the knob.

As the contents of the bag are dispensed, room is provided for the Freon to vaporize. The expanding Freon, therefore, applies the required pressure at all times so that all the contents of the bag can be dispensed. The bell-bottom 36 of the tube 35 prevents the pressure of the gas from forcing the bag up into the mouth of the tube 35 and clogging the tube. Even though the pressure of the gas might force the bag completely across the bottom of the bell, the material, which is to be dispensed, can still flow into the tube 35 through the openings 37 of the bell. The tube 45 insures equalization of pressure on the top and bottom of the bag.

For dispensing whipped cream, cream charged with a suitable, inert gas will still be loaded into the bag 46. This is in order that the cream may be delivered from the port 35 in whipped form. With my can, however, as contrasted with prior structures, all of the cream can be dispensed from the can because it is the Freon pressing on the bag, not the charging gas in the cream itself, which determines the delivery of the cream. Thus, with a can made according to my invention there is no wastage.

Furthermore, the cans of the present invention have special advantages for storing and dispensing marshmallow and similar materials. The marshmallow can be charged with an inert gas whose vapor pressure is not sufficient to force the material from the can, the vaporizable material around the bag, such as Freon, being used to supply the dispensing pressure. It is therefore possible with the present invention to slightly impregnate or charge any material in the bag with any desired quantity of gas to produce flufiiness or marshmallow effect without worrying about having enough pressure for dispensing the material. The dispensing pressure gas is wholly separated from the fluning gas.

Moreover, with the present invention comparatively light weight, relatively cheap cans may be employed for dispensing charged materials. The material, such as whipped cream, mayonnaise or marshmallow may be impregnated with an inert gas, such as carbon dioxide, in sufiicient quantity to cause the foaming action when the material is expelled from the can while the Freon, which has a vapor pressure of between 28 and'70 p. s. i., depending upon the blend used, will, when introduced between the can and bag, produce a constant pressure: at all times on the bag, providing the temperature of the can remains constant.

A can made according to the present invention provides not only a handy container for any liquid or pasty material but also a convenient, com-- pact dispensing device for such material. A single can provides not only a container for a lacthe bag forces the material out of the bag in through the bell-bottom 36 of the tube 35 and quer, a paint, a chemical, a soda-fountain syrup, mayonnaise, icing, whipped cream, or another liquid or pasty material, but also provides an easily-manipulable dispenser for the material. No air-pressure pump, air-line or other pressureapplying means is required to dispense the material from the can. Yet the can is simple in construction andits cost relatively low.

It is possible to makethe valve, syphon tube, and all components of the dispensing mechanism of a can constructed according to'the present invention completely of a plastic material so that they .will not be affected by acids, or other material contained. within the plastic bag. A can made according to this invention, therefore, may be used for dispensing any freely flowing or viscous material.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with a can having a single bag and a single control valve, it will be understood that any suitable number of bags and valves may be provided. For photographic purposes, therefor, it will be possible with the present invention to supply a dispensing pressure can having one bag that contains a developer, another that holds acetic acid, a third that contains hypo, etc., the contents of the several bags being dispensable under pressure by manipulation of the proper valve.

While the invention has been described then in connection with ,a particular embodiment thereof and a particular use therefor it is capable of various further modifications and uses, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing liquids, pasty materials, and the like, comprising an enclosed container having a centrally-disposed opening therein at one end thereof, a flexible bag sus pended from its top in said opening in such wise that some space is left between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container, said bag being adapted to hold the material which is to be dispensed and being closed except at its top, a discharge tube mounted within said bag coaxially with and within said opening and extending down into the bag from said opening close to the bottom of the bag, said tube being open at both ends, said bag being mounted with its top sealed about said tube and said opening, a manually-operable valve normally closing the upper discharge-end of the tube, a manually movable knob secured to said valve for moving the valve to open it, said knob having a discharge duct therein which communicates with the discharge end of said tube when the knob is moved to open said valve, means for constantly urging said valve to closed position, and a readily vaporizable liquid disposed in the space between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container, said liquid only partially filling said space so that room is provided in which the liquid may vaporize to apply pressure on the bag to force material out of the bag when the valve is open.

2. Apparatus for dispensing liquids, pasty materials, and the like, comprising an enclosed container having a centrally-disposed opening therein at one end thereof, a flexible bag suspended from its top in said container about said opening and in such wise that some space is left between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container, said bag being adapted to hold the material which is to be dispensed and being closed except at its top, a discharge tube mounted in said opening and extending down into said bag close to the bottom of said bag, said tube being open at both ends and having a bell mouth at the end adjacent the bottom of the bag, said bell portion having a plurality of inlet openings therein disposed about the latter end of the tube, a rectilinearly reciprocable valve normally closingthe opening in the opposite discharge endof the tube, a knob secured to said valve for manually depressing said valve to open it, said knob having a discharge duct therein which communicates with the discharge end of said tube when said knob is depressed to open said valve, resilient means for constantly urging said valve to closed position, and a readily vaporizable liquid disposed in the space between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container, said liquid only partially filling said space so that room is provided in which the liquid may vaporize to apply pressure on the bag to force material out of the bag when the valve is open.

3. Apparatus for dispensing liquids, pasty materials, and the like, comprising an enclosed container having a centrally-disposed opening there in at one end thereof, a flexible bag suspended in said container about said opening and in such wise that some space is left between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container, said bag being adapted to hold the material which is to be dispensed, a discharge tube mounted in said opening and extending down close to the bottom of said bag, said tube being open at both ends and having a bell mouth at the end adjacent the bottom of the bag, said bell portion having a plurality of inlet openings therein disposed about the latter end of the tube, a spool-shaped rubber valve-seat mounted in the discharge end of said tube, a valve having a head adapted to seat against the inside face of said seat, and having a stem extending through the bore of said seat, a manually depressible knob secured to the outside end of said stem and having a discharge duct therein which communicates with the bore of said seat and with said tube when the knob is depressed to open the valve, and a readilyvaporizable liquid disposed in the space between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container, said liquid only partially filling said space so that room is provided in which the liquid may vaporize to apply pressure on the bag to force material out of the bag when the valve is open.

4. Apparatus for dispensing liquids, pasty materials, and the like, comprising an enclosed container, a flexible bag mounted in said container in such wise that some space is left between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container, said bag being adapted to contain the material which is to be dispensed, a manually operable valve movably mounted in the container and in an opening in said bag to control discharge of material from said bag, said bag being closed except for its discharge opening, means constantly urging said valve to closed position to close said discharge opening and said container, and a readily-vaporizable liquid disposed in the space between the outside of the bag and the inside of the container, said liquid only partially filling said space so that room is provided in which the liquid may vaporize to apply pressure on the bag to force material out of the bag when the valve is open, and a tube mounted in the container and extending from the bottom of the con- Refere ces Cited the .file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Medley "-"wWW Dec. 1, 1903 Numb Number 8 Name Date Huss Feb. 10, 1914 Gammnter -Dec. 5, 1916 Cocks Mar. 18, I930 Bystricky et '11. ..-Apr. 9, 1985 'Piquerez Jan. 11, 1038 Reader July 20, 1943 Moore Apr. '6, 1948 Leonard Mar. 22. 1949 

